All Creation Points to Jesus (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

December 25, 2016

  Having posted the Christmas poem “To Jesus”, Dianna decided to share it with the ladies Bible study group she has been involved with.  One of the women liked it so much she said, “You ought to put that to music”.  Upon hearing that, the music to “What Child is This” almost immediately came to mind and I began to sing it to Dianna. The music was a little bit of a stretch for my voice but she liked it so much I decided to work on it and sing it in the various assisted living facilities during the week.

  A funny thing happened in the “Life Guidance” (Alzheimer/Dementia unit) Center at Atria El Camino Gardens. I read the introductory remarks and prepared to sing when suddenly I realized I couldn’t remember the music.  How appropriate is that?  So, after standing there for a moment with a surprised and blank look on my face, the LORD brought the music to “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken” to mind and I began to sing. Amazingly the flow of the music fit perfectly to the music and was a far better fit for my voice.

  To top it off, after singing it a couple of times at different facilities I found I was having to double up on one of the phrases to work with the music. On Christmas morning while thinking these things over, the last two lines came to mind and thus we have the finished product.

All creation points to Jesus; Son of God and son of man.

Even Adam in his forming was a type to show God’s plan.

Now the angel’s proclamation clearly seen by all who see

Glory in the incarnation of the Christ who set us free.

For His Name’s sake, God did send us such a Savior, humbly born,

Living life that we have failed to, cursed, rejected, bearing scorn.

Yet He stumbled not by seeing joy beyond that rugged cross,

Offering Himself completely to redeem us from our loss.

Now in heaven, how amazing and in hearts of all of those

Who are joined as one abiding in the knowledge, He arose!

Oh, to grace, how great a debtor, mercies fruit both you and I

If we’ve humbly bowed before Him, Jesus Christ, who reigns on high.

For the glory of the Father is more worth than all of men

And the hearts of all who love Him shout His praise who has no end!

In His Likeness, all redeemed will see Him as He truly is

And forever marvel in His Grace who made us for Him, His.

The Beauty of Late Bloomers

Michael E. Wood

July 29, 2013

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.   Philippians 1:12-13

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  Psalms 92: 12-15 (Emphasis mine)

In September 2011, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for the gospel at Atria El Camino Gardens in Carmichael, California.  During that first month, Dianna and I sat in to observe a Thursday night Bible study being conducted by a former member of a church which had been meeting at the facility.  The number of residents faithfully attending the meeting had dwindled to two.

Lucy, while suffering with Parkinson’s disease, attended our Sunday afternoon worship services regularly while at Atria until her condition debilitated to the point in which she had to move to another facility. Though her body was withering away, her mind was still sharp and we had developed a close relationship in the Lord.  When she moved to the Terraces in Roseville we began to visit her there and the Lord opened another opportunity for the gospel among the residents.

With her condition continuing to worsen, Lucy had to be moved once again to an Eskaton facility in Carmichael which provides a greater degree of personal care.  As you can imagine, if you would put yourself in her place, she was not always happy about these moves as she was having a difficult time understanding why these things were happening to her.

Out of the numerous hymns, songs and scriptures we have had the privilege of sharing with her, we found ourselves focusing on what God has provided for us through the Psalms and the letter to the Philippians. One of the things the apostle Paul wrote nearly two thousand years ago became very evident to Lucy.  The things which happen to us during our sojourn here on earth, our Sovereign God and Savior has designed to serve for the advancement of the gospel.

While visiting with Lucy on July 24th, she began to share with me how she had witnessed to another lady concerning Christ the day before. She said, “I’m afraid I did poor job of it.” And then with tears welling up in her eyes, she said. “That’s the first time I have ever told anyone about Christ.  I’m not sure why I am even telling you this.” I smiled and said, “I do! Because it is a great encouragement to me to know that our labor is not in vain, in the Lord.” She then continued by saying, “I was thinking about when I see Him I don’t want to go without bringing someone with me.”

I assured her that she had been a part of all the opportunities that had already taken place but am rejoicing in her outspokenness at this time in her life. We are told by the scriptures that one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase. While others around her are perishing with no hope of eternal life, at nearly ninety-one, Lucy is still bearing fruit for the glory of God.

There’s another part to this story which may seem strange to some. A few weeks ago, we in the Sacramento area endured a record breaking heat wave.  In the intense heat, the flowers in our little garden at the foot of the stairs didn’t stand a chance and began to wither away rapidly.

While it seemed that this would be the end of our enjoyment of the hydrangeas for this season, one little bud began to blossom not long before this recent visit with Lucy and the following came to mind.

The beauty of late bloomers

Is how awesome they appear

Amidst the withered flowers

Drying as they disappear.

Though some may focus only

On what they no longer see,

The eyes of our Beholder

Guides to see His majesty

Displayed in every aspect

Of this world of His creation

But more so by His Son

He gave to bring regeneration

To know Him and to love Him

In the beauty of His Light

And smell the sweetest fragrance

As He puts an end to night!

Things that I Could Mention

The Lord has opened up another wonderful door to share the gospel.  I have been asked to submit an article for inclusion in the monthly newsletter that goes out to the (over 250) residents at the Senior Living Center where I minister the Word. Below is a copy of the article that will appear in the May Newsletter. 

Things That I Could Mention
Michael E. Wood

While being Pastoral Care Provider for Atria El Camino Gardens, I understand that some of you as residents continue to enjoy the freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth along with a local congregation of your own choosing, and I rejoice with you in that privilege, and ask that you would pray for us, that the Word of the Lord would have free course and be glorified by the power of His Spirit as it is with you. If you are providentially hindered on any given Sunday, you are more than welcome to join us in the Club Room at 1:30p.m. For those in the Life Guidance building, we meet at 11:00a.m.Thursday.

On the other hand there may be those of you who are longtime residents or have recently become residents and are not fully aware of this opportunity of which you may enjoy regardless of your physical limitations. Staff members are available to assist you in whatever area of need you may have to accommodate your desire to meet with us. While being encouraged to write an article for the Newsletter and knowing that some of you I may never meet face to face this side of glory, the following came to mind.

Of all the things that I could mention, this is one of them,
Oh Come and worship God the Father in a song or hymn.
Come prepared with hearts a burning as He speaks with us
By the Holy Spirit showing Christ all glorious

As a man, He came to earth to do what none could do
And gave Himself; The Sacrifice to honor justice due.
For that which we deserve because of sin, no other way,
Could have satisfied the wrath of God due us each day.

But when upon the cross He cried, “It Is Finished’, it was done!
And by His resurrection He has proved that He’s the One
By whom a new creation set in order will be seen
By all who trust in Christ alone by faith; though now unseen,
And yet we love and look for Him to come again with power,
With glory overspreading all creation in that hour!

If you have any questions, prayer requests, or would like to meet with Dianna and me on a more personal basis perhaps on a Thursday night, please feel free to contact us. Please leave a message if no one answers the phone immediately. (916) 331-2746.

Rejoicing with you, in Jesus,
Michael E. Wood

Written:  March 2, 2012

The Message that I Preach (A Prayer)

Michael E. Wood
October 7, 2011

The Lord having opened a door for the Word at Atria El Camino Gardens!  The privilege of preaching the glories of His grace on a regular basis has been established. While in preparation for the second Sunday service, the following thoughts came to my heart and mind.

O may the message that I preach
Come straight Lord, from Your heart
As You reveal Your presence
By Your Spirit to impart
The truth of who You Are
In all Your holiness and awe
As You delight in mercy
And through Christ to us You call.


O may Your words like arrows
Pierce the darkness of the minds
Of those You have appointed
To the Shepherd who still finds
The sheep of Your true pasture
That has wandered from the fold
And gathers them rejoicing
As Your glory You unfold
To all that You have chosen
As You cause us to delight
In Jesus Christ our Advocate
Who dwells in Your pure light.


And for the children gathered
May You feed us with the bread
Of Him who overcame our sin
And raised us from the dead.
O help us by the power
Of the blood that washed us clean
And by Your Holy Spirit
Praise Your Name in every scene
Of life through which we pass
From day to day You have in store
Until we see You face-to-face
On Heaven’s golden shore.

Christ Jesus Alone!

Michael E. Wood
September 16, 2011

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

During the month of August, having fully recovered from my back injury, I sat out to once again seek some type of part time employment. By virtue of searching via internet various possibilities, I came across a position posted by the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility just a few miles down the road from us. Thus with the thought that I might not only land a job but find an open door for the gospel and the ministry of the Word, I went there. To make a long story short, this was not what my Father had in mind, but I being in the way He led me.

While heading back toward our little apartment I noticed the Atria El Camino Gardens Assisted Living Facility to my right and kept on driving. After a few blocks I turned around without any expectation but to be faithful to honor the Lord in seeking every opportunity to make Him known. Upon entering the facility I met the young receptionist whose name is Joy, and I said, “I love that name.” With a smile on her face she asked how she might be of assistance to me, and I said something to the effect, that “I am a songwriter, singer, a poet, a preacher, and I am looking to see if this is a place I might be used.” She said, ‘It may be that your timing is perfect, as the man who was the Pastor here recently passed away. Staci Weisz, our Engage Life Director was very close to him and has not yet found a replacement.” I left a couple of my poetry gospel tracts and continued to our apartment. Over the course of the next few days I called back twice, without receiving any inclination of interest, and had just about determined that this situation would be like so many I had looked into before.

On August 31, Dianna was working on one of her theology art projects in the “control room” as we call it while I was reading at the dining room table enabling us to converse with each other face to face from time to time. About an hour before time to leave for Wednesday night prayer meeting the phone rang and we let it go to the answering machine. Upon hearing that it was Mrs.Weisz from Atria, I picked up the phone and she began to do a quick interview over the phone. During the process of the interview, she let it be known that they were looking for someone who would be preaching the Word in an expository manner, not what people wanted to hear but what they needed to hear. She asked if Dianna and I would be able to meet her for breakfast at Atria the next morning, of which we did. That night I mentioned this opportunity to the body of believers gathered for prayer, and to our amazement a wonderful door has been opened to proclaim the glories of the grace of our God in Christ.

The following was written in light of that first introduction at Atria and of that which we trust our gracious Father will do for His glory.

I am,
A songwriter, singer, a poet, a preacher,
A tool in the hand of my Father the Teacher.
This grace He did give in Christ Jesus the man
Who came down from heaven, revealing God’s plan
To save of all people a remnant from loss
As He paid for our sins by the blood of His cross.


He calls from the dead giving life; a new race
Is formed for His glory to look on His face.
The gift of His Spirit He gave us to raise
Through infinite mercy His glorious praise.
Tis Jesus we follow, embraced by His love;
The light and the way to our Father above.


So with me now come if by faith you have seen
That He is our treasure on Whom we can lean,
And trust in Him wholly Who’s kingdom has come
Till with Him in glory, fulfilled as the sum
Of infinite wisdom and power is shown
By the grace of our Savior, Christ Jesus alone!